Footwear with detachable straps

ABSTRACT

A footwear with detachable straps having a sole member shaped like a foot with a toe portion and a heel portion, at least one strap member with at least two end portions, a toe separation member, and at least one attachment device which allows wearers to easily detach the strap member and ether reverse and reattach the same strap member or attach an entirely different strap member to the sole member to provide a myriad of different footwear. A pedicure footwear with detachable straps includes a sole member shaped like a foot with a toe portion and a heel portion, at least one strap member with at least two end portions, a toe separation member, and at least one attachment device which allows wearers to slip their toes through the straps without risk of ruining freshly polished toenails and to walk immediately after a pedicure. In addition, the pedicure footwear looks and functions like ordinary outdoor footwear

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/954,899 filed Aug. 9, 2007 and U.S. Provisional Application No.60/969,281 filed Aug. 31, 2007, the entire contents of which areexpressly incorporated herein by reference.

FIELDS OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in embodiments of footwear having detachablestraps which allow wearers to quickly change the appearance of theirfootwear so that a single sole member can serve as a platform for aplurality of different straps to provide the wearer with the samesatisfaction and utility as owning a plurality of different footwear.

In addition, this invention relates in certain embodiments of pedicurefootwear with detachable straps which allows wearers to slip wet toesthrough the straps without risk of ruining freshly polished toenails andto walk immediately after a pedicure. In addition, the pedicure footwearlooks and functions like ordinary outdoor footwear.

SUMMARY

Footwear is provided comprising a sole member shaped like a foot with atoe portion and a heel portion, a strap member having at least two endportions, a toe separation member, and an attachment device between eachend portion of the strap member and the sole member intermediate the toeportion and the heel portion. A plurality of different detachable strapsare interchangeable to provide a myriad of different footwear offeringversatility in style, and replacement of worn parts. Additionally, avariety of soles can be used including flat, platform style, wedges andorthotics. Soles can, for example, be made from rubber, plastic, leatheror suede.

Pedicures often include the polishing of the toenails which require timeto dry. While slipping wet toes into standard pedicure slippers, oneruns the risk of ruining the freshly polished nails. Standard disposablepedicure slippers are also unsuitable for walking outdoors after apedicure. Current developments have been made to create reusablepedicure slippers. However, they do not allow the wearer the ability toinsert the toes into the slippers without risk of ruining freshlypolished toenails; and neither do they look or function like ordinaryoutdoor footwear. Embodiments of footwear are designed specifically foruse right after a pedicure, which allows wearers virtually little or norisk of ruining freshly polished toenails when put on and to look andfunction like ordinary outdoor footwear.

One embodiment of pedicure footwear comprise a sole member shaped like afoot with a toe portion and a heel portion, a strap member having atleast two end portions, a toe separation member, and an attachmentdevice between each end portion of the strap member and the sole memberintermediate the toe portion and the heel portion. Another embodimentcomprises a sole member shaped like a foot with a toe portion, a heelportion, an interior side, and an exterior side; a strap member having afixed end portion on the interior side and an unfixed end portion, a toeseparation member in the shape of a loop, and an attachment devicebetween the unfixed end portion of the strap member and the sole memberon the exterior side intermediate the toe portion and the heel portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a top view of one embodiment.

FIG. 1B is a close up view of an attachment device used in oneembodiment.

FIG. 1C is a front perspective view of one embodiment.

FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of another embodiment.

FIG. 2B is a front perspective view of another embodiment.

FIG. 2C is a close-up view of an attachment device used in anotherembodiment.

FIG. 2D is a front perspective view of another embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a front perspective of another embodiment.

FIG. 3B is a top plan view of the strap disconnected from the attachmentdevice in another embodiment.

FIG. 3C is a front perspective illustrating the interchangeable strapfeatures.

FIG. 4A is a front perspective view of another embodiment.

FIG. 4B is a front perspective view of another embodiment.

FIG. 5A is a top view of another embodiment.

FIG. 5B is a front perspective view of another embodiment.

FIG. 5C is a front perspective view of the strap disconnected from theattachment device in another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFERED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1A, one embodiment of the present invention is a pedicurefootwear 10 including a sole member 20 shaped like a foot with a toeportion 21 and a heel portion 22, a strap member 30 having a first endportion 31 and a second end portion 32 and a toe separation portion 40.Attachment devices 43, 44 are located intermediate the toe portion 21and the heel portion 22 on opposite sides of the sole member 20. The toeseparation portion 40 of the strap member 30 is advantageously fixednear where the wearer's big and second toes would meet. This allows thewearer to lift up the strap member 30 and the toe separation portion 40at the same time while placing the foot on the sole member 30 in such away as to insert the toe separation portion 40 securely in between thebig and second toe without contacting the toe nail. After the wearer'sfoot is in place, the strap member 30 can be pulled back away from thetoes and the respective end portions 31, 32 can be attached to the solemember 20 intermediate the toe portion 21 and heel portion 22 viarespective attachment devices 43, 44. Thus, the shoe wearers freshlypolished “wet” toes never come in contact with the strap 30.

As shown in FIG. 1B, each strap end portion 31, 32 of strap member 30includes a grommet 100.

Each attachment device 43, 44 includes a grommet 110 on a shortstrap-like member 120. Member 120 is attached to the sole member 20intermediate the toe portion 21 and heel portion 22. To secure the strapmember 30 to the sole member 20, loops 130 formed by flexible cords orstrings can be threaded through both of the grommets 100, 110 and theloops 130 then secured around a toggle 140.

In one embodiment, the loops 130 are formed from an elastic materialthereby enabling the footwear to offer some “give” when the loops aresecured. In another embodiment, the loops 130 are formed from anon-elastic material. As illustrated in FIG. 1C, once both ends 31, 32of the strap member 30 are fully secured using the attachment devices43, 44 the footwear looks and functions like ordinary outdoor footwear.

In FIG. 2A, another embodiment of the present invention is a pedicurefootwear 210 having a sole member 220 shaped like a foot with a toeportion 221, a heel portion 222, an interior side 223, and an exteriorside 224. A strap member 230 has one end 233 fixed to sole member 220and an unfixed end portion 234. A toe separation member 240 is fixed tothe toe portion 221. The upper portion of member 240 is in the shape ofa loop. An attachment device 245 is fixed to the sole member 220 on theexterior side 224 intermediate the toe portion 221 and heel portion 222.The fixed end portion 233 of strap 230 is fixed on the interior side 223of the sole member 220 intermediate the toe portion 221 and heel portion222. The toe separation member 240 is advantageously fixed to the solemember 220 near where the wearer's big and second toes would meet. Thisallows the wearer to lift up the toe separation member 240 while placingthe foot on the sole member 230 in such a way as to insert the toeseparation member 240 securely in between the big and second toe withoutcontacting the wet nail polish.

After the wearer's foot is in place, the wearer can pull the toeseparation member 240 away from the wet toenails and insert the unfixedend 234 of strap member 230 into the loop of the toe separation member240. See FIG. 2B which illustrates of how the strap member 230 can beinserted into the loop of the toe separation member 240.

Once looped with the foot in place, the wearer can secure the unfixedend portion 234 to the sole member 220 on the exterior side 224intermediate the toe portion 221 and heel portion 222 via the attachmentdevice 245. As best shown in FIG. 2C, the attachment device 245 includesa buckle 255 at the end of a short elastic strap member 260 attached tothe sole member 220 intermediate the toe portion 221 and heel portion222. The unfixed portion 234 of strap member 230 includes a holedelastic strap 250 on the unfixed end portion 234 of the strap member230. The strap member 230 is attached to the sole member 220 by engagingthe holed elastic strap 250 to the buckle 255. Using elastic materialfor the holed strap 250 and the short strap member 260 for the buckleallows the footwear to offer some “give.” As illustrated in FIG. 2D,once the strap member 230 is looped through toe separation member 240and fully secured using the attachment device 245, the footwear looksand functions like ordinary outdoor footwear.

In another embodiment, either or both of the strap members 250 and 260can be formed from a non-elastic material.

In all of the aforementioned embodiments, wearers can insert their feetinto the described footwear with little risk of damaging freshly paintedtoenails. In addition, after all strap members are properly attached,the footwear looks and functions like ordinary outdoor footwear.

It is appreciated that the shape of the strap member, the number of endportions, and the number of strap members can vary without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the invention. It is also appreciated thatthe type of attachment device may vary as long as the toe separationportion can be pulled away from the wet toes and the strap is secured tothe footwear. By way of example, the attachment device may be any devicewith a method of attachment known to a person having ordinary skill inthe art, including buttons, hooks, buckles, ties, Velcro, and frogclosures. It may include an underlying strap-like member to hold themethod of attachment as illustrated in FIG. 1B 120 and FIG. 2C 220, butis not necessary.

In FIG. 3A, another embodiment of the present invention is athong-sandal commonly known as flip-flop footwear 310 which allowswearers to quickly change the appearance of their footwear. A solemember 320 is shaped like a foot with a toe portion 321 and a heelportion 322. Side attachment members 340, 341 are located intermediatethe toe portion 321 and the heel portion 322 on opposite sides of thesole member 320. A front attachment member 342 is advantageously fixedat or near where the wearer's big and second toes would meet. Agenerally “V” shaped strap member 350 includes a first end portion 351,a second end portion 352 and a toe separation portion 355.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, each attachment member 340, 341 and 342includes a button 400.

Each strap end portion 351, 352 and toe separation portion 355 includesa button hole 410. Strap 350 is attached to the sole member 320 byinserting the respective buttons 400 into the button holes 410 andbuttoning the strap ends 351, 352 to the respective side attachmentmembers 340, 341 and buttoning the toe separation portion 355 to thefront attachment member 342.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, a single strap 350 canhave different designs on opposite sides of the strap. Thus, by way ofexample, as shown in FIG. 3A, one side 450 of strap 350 can have adecorative design shown in FIG. 3A as a series of decorative spots 455,whereas the opposite side 455, shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, can be entirelyof a single color fabric. Thus, the same flip-flop can have two entirelydifferent appearances by simply unbuttoning the strap 350, turning thestrap 350 over, and rebuttoning the strap 350 back on to the attachmentbuttons 400.

In this and other embodiments described below, the straps can havepatterns, stripes, school names, team logos and can be made from avariety of materials i.e. suede, fabric, leather, beaded silk, andmetal. Several interchangeable straps 350 can typically accompany acommon sole, so that the user can use a single sole to create aplurality of different designs.

In another embodiment, the strap member 650 includes one or more buttons400 for engaging button holes 510 on the attachment member. As shown inFIG. 4A, this flip flop includes a sole member 600 shaped like a footwith a toe portion 621 and a heel portion 622. Side attachment members640, 641 are located intermediate the toe portion and the heel portionon opposite sides of the sole member. A front attachment member 642 isadvantageously fixed at or near where its wearer's big and second toeswill meet.

Attachment member 640, 641 include buttons which attach to button holes410 on the ends of strap 650 and the button 400 at the center of strap650 attaches to the button hole 510 in the attached member 642.

In FIG. 4B, another embodiment is shown wherein all of the buttons 400are on the strap and engage corresponding button holes 410 attached tothe sole.

Other embodiments are shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C. A sole member 700having a toe portion 701 and a heel portion 702. A pair of loops 705 isattached on one side of the sole 700 intermediate the toe portion 701and the heel portion 702. Another pair of loops 710 are attached to theopposite side of the sole intermediate the toe portion 701 and the heelportion 702. A third pair of loops 715 are attached at or near where thewearer's big and second toes will meet.

A strap 720 has a generally “V” shaped configuration and may have, asshown, a substantially uniform width. Grommets 730, 731 are located atthe respective ends of strap 720 and grommet 735 is located at generallythe center of the strap.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the strap 720 is attached to the sole 700 by simplytying each of the loops 705, 710 and 715 to the respective grommets 730,731 and 735. The appearance of the embodiment of the flip-flop footwearof FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C is as varied as the color of strap 720 or the natureof a design displayed on the surface of the strap. Also, as shown inFIG. 5B, the front loop 715 can be a different shape or size than therear loop 705 and 715.

In the flip-flop of FIG. 5A, a design is illustrated on one side of thestrap 720 whereas, as shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, the strap 720 presentsquite a different appearance when the strap is turned over to display asolid color 721.

In other embodiments, a plurality of different straps 720 can havemyriad colors and designs to provide the owner of a single sole 700 withmyriad possibilities of footwear of different designs using a singlesole 700 as the base of this footwear, and mix and match within thepair, i.e. red strap on left foot and white strap on right foot over apatterned sole.

Sole bases can also be of different design, color, pattern, height,elevation and various grades of quality, e.g. from beach/shower shoes toorthodic shoes.

The strap 720 or the loops 705, 710 and 715 or both the strap and loopscan be formed of an elastic material. Using elastic material for theholed strap 720 or loop allows the footwear to offer some “give.” Asillustrated in FIG. 5B, once the strap member loops 705, 710 and 715 aretied to the sole member 720, the footwear looks and functions likeordinary footwear.

The loops, 705, 710 and 715 can be tied in a variety of ways to createeasily different looking foot wear for ease.

In another embodiment, either or both the strap 720 and loops 705, 710and 715 can be formed from a non-elastic material.

Thus, the different embodiments where the strap is fully detachableinclude the following combinations:

-   -   1. Three buttons on the bases and button holes on the straps        (reversible and interchangeable);    -   2. Buttons at the side, with button holes on the strap end        pieces—while the toe separator has a button hole and the top        portion of the strap has a button (the button on the top portion        could push through to the other side to make them reversible,        typically, thus would embodiment be used with only be        interchangeable straps);    -   3. Three buttons on the straps (typically non-reversible, only        interchangeable), with button holes on the straps;    -   4. Button holes at the sides, with buttons on the end part of        each strap-with a button hole at the top portion and a button at        the toe separator.

It is appreciated that the shape of the sole and strap member can varywithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. It is alsoappreciated that the type of device used to attach the strap to the solemay vary as long as the strap can be removed from the so and easilyre-secured to the sole. By way of example, the attachment device may beany device with a method of attachment known to a person having ordinaryskill in the art, including buttons, hooks, buckles, ties, Velcro, andfrog closures.

Therefore, it will be understood that the foregoing is only illustrativeof the principles of the invention, and that various modifications,alterations, and combinations can be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

1. A thong-sandal footwear providing the ability to remove at least aportion of the strap from the sole comprising: a sole member shaped likea foot with a toe portion and a heel portion for supporting the foot, adetachable strap member having at least a first end portion and a secondend portion, a toe separation member attachable to said sole member andeasily attachable and detachable from said strap member, and anattachment device between at least one end portion of the strap memberand the sole member intermediate the toe portion and the heel portion toeasily attach and detach the strap member to the sole member.
 2. Thefootwear of claim 1 wherein said toe separation member can be pulledaway from wet toes following a pedicure without contacting the wet toes.3. The footwear of claim 1 wherein said strap member can have differentdesigns on opposite sides of the strap so that the wearer can quicklychange the appearance of their footwear.
 4. The footwear of claim 1wherein said detachable strap has a generally “V” shape.
 5. The footwearof claim 1, wherein said toe separation member is in the shape of a pairof loops.
 6. The footwear of claim 5, wherein said loops can bedetachably inserted into a grommet of said strap member.
 7. The footwearof claim 5 wherein additional pairs of loops are located intermediateeach side of said sole member for attaching and detaching the ends ofsaid strap member to said sole member.
 8. A pedicure footwear for:minimizing the risk of ruining freshly polished toenails, providing theability to insert wet toes right after a pedicure without the wet toescontacting the footwear so the wearer does not have to wait until toesare dry, and functioning and appearing like ordinary outdoor footwear sothe wearer can walk immediately after a pedicure comprising a solemember shaped like a foot with a toe portion and a heel portion forsupporting the foot, a detachable strap member having at least a firstend portion and a second end portion, a toe separation member which canbe pulled away from the wet toes for anchoring the foot to the toeportion of the sole member in between the wearer's big and second toeswithout contacting the wet toes, and an attachment device between eachend portion of the strap member and the sole member intermediate the toeportion and the heel portion to attach the detachable strap member tothe sole member in order to hold the foot in place.
 9. A pedicurefootwear, comprising: a sole member shaped like a foot with a toeportion, a heel portion, an interior side, and an exterior side, a strapmember having a fixed end portion on the interior side and an unfixedend portion, a toe separation member in the shape of a loop, and anattachment device between the unfixed end portions of the strap memberand the sole member on the exterior side intermediate the toe portionand the heel portion.
 10. The pedicure footwear of claim 9, wherein thestrap member can be inserted into the toe separation member